Overcoming EGFR(G724S)-mediated osimertinib resistance through unique binding characteristics of second-generation EGFR inhibitors

The emergence of acquired resistance against targeted drugs remains a major clinical challenge in lung adenocarcinoma patients. In a subgroup of these patients we identified an association between selection of EGFR(T790M)-negative but EGFR(G724S)-positive subclones and osimertinib resistance. We demonstrate that EGFR(G724S) limits the activity of third-generation EGFR inhibitors both in vitro and in vivo. Structural analyses and computational modeling indicate that EGFR(G724S) mutations may induce a conformation of the glycine-rich loop, which is incompatible with the binding of third-generation TKIs. Systematic inhibitor screening and in-depth kinetic profiling validate these findings and show that second-generation EGFR inhibitors retain kinase affinity and overcome EGFR(G724S)-mediated resistance. In the case of afatinib this profile translates into a robust reduction of colony formation and tumor growth of EGFR(G724S)-driven cells. Our data provide a mechanistic basis for the osimertinib-induced selection of EGFR(G724S)-mutant clones and a rationale to treat these patients with clinically approved second-generation EGFR inhibitors.